The 63rd Aviation Brigade has been aiding in hurricanes since Katrina in 2005.

On Wednesday afternoon, South Carolina’s Governor Henry McMaster became the latest governor to issue an executive order declaring a state of emergency. On Twitter Friday, Trump wrote, “Hurricane Irma is of epic proportion, perhaps bigger than we have ever seen”. But, down in Florida y’all should know what you’re up against already when I say a major hurricane is going to be over or near the East Coast.

Airlines and airports operate preparedness plans in 72, 48 and 24 hour markers, evacuating aircraft and personnel and preparing stations as part of a methodical checklist ahead of a storm’s arrival, according to Ken Jenkins, principal crisis response strategist at NavAid Crisis Consulting Group.

He said Irma’s intensity set it apart from other storms. “Emergency generators have been tested and are ready to keep the port’s access control center and offices fully powered”. That includes what to do if two massive hurricanes strike the USA mainland within days, 1,000 miles apart.

Trump added that the federal government is ready, and in another tweet, he said: “Our incredible U.S. Coast Guard saved more than 15,000 lives last week with Harvey”.

“It should include things like bottled water, non-perishable foods, flash lights, cell phone and charger, blankets and sleeping bag”. Those supplies were being pre-staged on semi-trucks, where they can be driven into the disaster zone after the storm passes.

“We definitely always do something over there to help them as much as we can”.

The preparations were being made even as FEMA continued to respond in Texas. An info bubble by Expedia also alerted users to the fact that the destination is now 90 percent booked.

At 11 a.m. Thursday, Irma was still a Category 5 storm, with top sustained winds of 175 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center. It was at the time the most expensive natural disaster in US history. “Now, it is a long game that requires a lot of attention to detail”. Numerous models keep it east of Florida, and that is why the National Hurricane Center has shifted their track east as well. “People are stranded on the sides of the highway”, she said.

“We are halting all shipments after Thursday to allow our team members to prepare their own dwellings and secure their possessions”, said Matt Kastensmidt, domestic sales manager for Vero Beach, Fla. -based IMG Citrus.